Cart

Board of Directors & Staff

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix consists of directors elected from within the Chorus as well as members of the community. With skills in finance, development, marketing, and strategic planning, the Board is committed to working with the members of the organization and the community to ensure the high standards of the Chorus and outstanding community reputation are maintained.

Dave Thomas, President

Dave is a retired commander of the Phoenix Police Department and is a member of the baritone section. He has been a member of Orpheus since September 2009.

Drew Peterson, Vice-President

Drew is a physician with CIGNA Medical Group and is a member of the second tenor section. He is in his sixteenth year with Orpheus.

Ira Rubins, Secretary

Ira joined Orpheus in 2010 and is a member of the Baritone section. He is a retired college dean.

Robert Meier, Treasurer

Bob has been with Orpheus since 2001 and sings with the bass section. He is the owner of Adaptive Insurance Agency and has been active in planning and finance for Orpheus since joining the Chorus.

Jeremy Harris, Member at large

Re-elected to serve a two-year term until July 1, 2019 after completing an interim term to fill a vacancy in the spring of 2017. Jeremy sings 1st Tenor. He joined Orpheus in August 2014.

Jay Kereny, Member at large

Jay joined the Chorus in the fall of 2016 as a 2nd Tenor. He currently works in media sales and his favorite hobbies include studio recording and being a musician.

Skip Pepers, Member at large

Elected to a 2-year term beginning July 1, 2018, Skip joined the Chorus in August 2014 and is a member of the Baritone section. He owns and operates an organ repair business.

Owen Swenson, Member at large

Owen is retired and has been a member of Orpheus since August 2015. He sings with the 2nd Tenor Section.

Brook Carter Larson

Artistic Director

A proud native of North Dakota, Brook Carter Larson is in his tenth season as the Artistic Director of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. Since taking the podium with Orpheus, the group has more than tripled in size. Before joining Orpheus, Larson taught Choral Music Education classes at Arizona State University for six years. During his time at ASU, Dr. Larson founded and directed two choirs, the Sun Devil Singers and the ASU Men’s Chorus. In addition to directing choir, Larson taught Choral Methods, supervised student teachers, and coordinated field experience for music education majors. Before his time at ASU, Larson taught at the middle and high school levels.

Larson received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University. He also holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and Moorhead State University (Minnesota). Larson’s mentor teachers at these institutions include R. D. Mathey, Paul Sahuc, David Stocker, and George Umberson. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, Dr. Larson also had the great honor of studying privately with the late Doug McEwen, emeritus professor of Arizona State University.

This past July, 2016, Brook was presented the Arizona American Choral Director’s Association Choral Director of the Year Award. Recently, Larson has conducted the Cantaremos Boys Honor Choir, Arizona Music Educators Association Junior High School All-State Choir, the Greater Phoenix Honor Choir, Tucson’s inaugural Boys to Men Festival, Regional Honor Choirs throughout Arizona, and was a Co-conductor with Charles Bruffy (Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale) of the Phoenix-area Boys to Men Festival which featured Chanticleer. Dr. Larson was the Repertoire & Standards Chair for Male Choirs for the Arizona chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for eight years. Larson’s edition of A New Commandment by Thomas Tallis was published by Alliance Music in 2010. Larson directed the Chancel Choir at St. Peter Lutheran Church (Mesa) for 15 years and has also taught choir and theory at Scottsdale Community College. He loves to travel with his family and watch his daughter play soccer.

Carric Smolnik

Pianist and Assistant Conductor

Carric Smolnik is currently the Pianist and Assistant Conductor for the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. He holds a DMA in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University, where he conducted the ASU Men’s Chorus and worked extensively as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. He holds an MM in Choral conducting and a BM in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University. While at BYU, Dr. Smolnik founded and directed Impressions, and eight-voice chamber choir. He served as pianist for numerous students and was the Assistant Conductor to the BYU Women’s Chorus, playing piano and conducting on their first commercial recording, Wondrous Love. Dr. Smolnik served as conductor of the Arizona Deseret Choir from 2010 – 2015. He enjoys collaborative music as well as time with his family.

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix consists of directors elected from within the Chorus as well as members of the community. With skills in finance, development, marketing, and strategic planning, the Board is committed to working with the members of the organization and the community to ensure the high standards of the Chorus and outstanding community reputation are maintained.

Dave Thomas, President

Dave is a retired commander of the Phoenix Police Department and is a member of the baritone section. He has been a member of Orpheus since September 2009.

Drew Peterson, Vice-President

Drew is a physician with CIGNA Medical Group and is a member of the second tenor section. He is in his sixteenth year with Orpheus.

Ira Rubins, Secretary

Ira joined Orpheus in 2010 and is a member of the Baritone section. He is a retired college dean.

Robert Meier, Treasurer

Bob has been with Orpheus since 2001 and sings with the bass section. He is the owner of Adaptive Insurance Agency and has been active in planning and finance for Orpheus since joining the Chorus.

Jeremy Harris, Member at large

Re-elected to serve a two-year term until July 1, 2019 after completing an interim term to fill a vacancy in the spring of 2017. Jeremy sings 1st Tenor. He joined Orpheus in August 2014.

Jay Kereny, Member at large

Jay joined the Chorus in the fall of 2016 as a 2nd Tenor. He currently works in media sales and his favorite hobbies include studio recording and being a musician.

Skip Pepers, Member at large

Elected to a 2-year term as of July 1, 2018, Skip joined the Chorus in August 2014 and is a member of the Baritone section. He owns and operates an organ repair business.

Owen Swenson, Member at large

Owen is retired and has been a member of Orpheus since August 2015. He sings with the 2nd Tenor Section.

Brook Carter Larson

Artistic Director

A proud native of North Dakota, Brook Carter Larson is in his tenth season as the Artistic Director of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. Since taking the podium with Orpheus, the group has more than tripled in size. Before joining Orpheus, Larson taught Choral Music Education classes at Arizona State University for six years. During his time at ASU, Dr. Larson founded and directed two choirs, the Sun Devil Singers and the ASU Men’s Chorus. In addition to directing choir, Larson taught Choral Methods, supervised student teachers, and coordinated field experience for music education majors. Before his time at ASU, Larson taught at the middle and high school levels.

Larson received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University. He also holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and Moorhead State University (Minnesota). Larson’s mentor teachers at these institutions include R. D. Mathey, Paul Sahuc, David Stocker, and George Umberson. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, Dr. Larson also had the great honor of studying privately with the late Doug McEwen, emeritus professor of Arizona State University.

This past July, 2016, Brook was presented the Arizona American Choral Director’s Association Choral Director of the Year Award. Recently, Larson has conducted the Cantaremos Boys Honor Choir, Arizona Music Educators Association Junior High School All-State Choir, the Greater Phoenix Honor Choir, Tucson’s inaugural Boys to Men Festival, Regional Honor Choirs throughout Arizona, and was a Co-conductor with Charles Bruffy (Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale) of the Phoenix-area Boys to Men Festival which featured Chanticleer. Dr. Larson was the Repertoire & Standards Chair for Male Choirs for the Arizona chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for eight years. Larson’s edition of A New Commandment by Thomas Tallis was published by Walton Music in 2010. Larson directed the Chancel Choir at St. Peter Lutheran Church (Mesa) for 15 years and has also taught choir and theory at Scottsdale Community College. He loves to travel with his family and watch his daughter play soccer.

Carric Smolnik

Pianist and Assistant Conductor

Carric Smolnik is currently the Pianist and Assistant Conductor for the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. He holds a DMA in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University, where he conducted the ASU Men’s Chorus and worked extensively as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. He holds an MM in Choral conducting and a BM in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University. While at BYU, Dr. Smolnik founded and directed Impressions, and eight-voice chamber choir. He served as pianist for numerous students and was the Assistant Conductor to the BYU Women’s Chorus, playing piano and conducting on their first commercial recording, Wondrous Love. Dr. Smolnik served as conductor of the Arizona Deseret Choir from 2010 – 2015. He enjoys collaborative music as well as time with his family.

PO BOX 64534Phoenix, AZ85082

Email: info@orpheus.org

Orpheus is a Non Profit

The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix strives to be the most recognized community chorus in the region. Our mission is to present choral music that entertains and adds cultural value to Arizona communities by delivering quality performances and engaging in outreach activities while providing a rewarding experience for members.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, we depend on a broad network of public and private support. Like all arts groups, ticket sales pay for less than 50% of the total cost of putting on a concert. Without you, our audience, it would be impossible for us to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision.

Your support provides us with the ability to move forward. Since 1929, with the help of our generous friends, we have continued to touch lives and spread our message throughout the world. Whether an individual or large corporation, each contributor shares in fulfilling our mission and vision and for that, we are very grateful.